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A TEXTBOOK OF THEORETICAL BOTANY 



In the meantime the sex organs themselves have disorganized and hyphae 

 grow in from the apothecial sheath to form a layer of paraphyses lining the 

 inner surface of the apothecium. As the asci mature they push their way 

 between these paraphyses so that at maturity the lining layer of the apothecium, 



ANTHERIDIA 



ASCOGONIUM 



ASCOGONIUM 



Fig. 255. — Pyronema confluens. A, Ascogonial and antheridial branches in contact. 

 B, Ascogonium with trichogyne united to antheridium. Male nuclei white, 

 female nuclei black. C, Formation of ascogonial hyphae with numerous 

 paired nuclei. D, Transverse septation of ascogonial hypha into binucleate 

 cells. E to J, Stages in the formation of the crozier and ascus cell. K, Develop- 

 ment of ascus and formation of ascospores. {After Claussen.) 



the hymenium, is composed of an intermingled mass of asci and paraphyses 

 (Fig. 256). As this fruiting body matures it flattens out and the colour of the 

 hyphae composing the hymenium changes from clear white through pale 

 pink to salmon red, thus rendering it a very pretty little structure up to about 

 3 mm. in diameter. Since the sex organs are frequently produced quite close 

 together on the mycelium, it follows that the mature fruiting bodies tend to 

 run into one another, and Pyronema confluens, as the name implies, is generally 

 found with its fruiting bodies in confluent masses. 



